CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Police detectives are investigating a carjacking, shooting and car break-ins from the last several days, Chief of Detectives Lt. Steve Cooper said Tuesday on 580 Live with Charleston Mayor Danny Jones on 580 WCHS.
The Monday night carjacking followed a break-in at a house on Mcgovran Road, Cooper said. A woman who works as a caregiver for an elderly resident was startled by the burglar who had been in the basement of the house.
“He had stolen some cash and some valuables,” Cooper said. “The home was burglarized while she was upstairs. She ran into the burglar while he was leaving the scene. He pointed a gun at her and demanded her car keys.”
The caregiver was pushed down and suffered minor injuries, Cooper said.
“This has all the earmarks of someone who knew where the valuables were and how to get in. We have a good lead in the case,” Cooper said.
A Monday afternoon shooting in the service parking area of Town Center Mall is also under investigation, Cooper said.
Police believe a 16-year-old boy was trying to rob a 15-year-old boy that he knew from school when the 16-year-old fired a gun in an attempt to intimidate the victim. Cooper expects charges to be filed.
“We believe we will be able to get positive identification on the kid that shot the gun and charge him criminally,” Cooper said.
There were no injuries.
Meanwhile, police have beefed up patrols in the South Hills community following what Cooper called a “mini-rash” of vehicle break-ins likely associated with the holidays.
“It’s on Forest Road, Comstock, Chestnut. We have extra police patrols going on up there right now. I would just advise everyone to keep their porch lights on at night and not leave anything visible in their vehicle,” he said.